Hair Dryer Sleeve Used for Heat Protection

ABSTRACT

A removable conical hair dryer sleeve accessory to surround the barrel or blowing nozzle of a hair dryer to protect the user from extremely high temperatures. The sleeve portion fits snugly to the barrel or blowing nozzle of a hair dryer. The sleeve is made from a single material and the material is a heat resistant material. the sleeve is flexible.

This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/254,408, filed Nov. 12, 2015, and is entitled to thatfiling date of priority. The specification, figures and completedisclosure of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/254,408 areincorporated herein by specific reference for all purposes.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a removable conical hairdryer sleeve accessory to surround the barrel or blowing nozzle of ahair dryer to protect the user from extremely high temperatures.

BACKGROUND

The use of hair dryers is well known in the industry. Professionalhairstylists, hair salons, barbers, pet groomers and individuals at homeall use these devices. Various hair dryers have an elongated cylindricalbarrel or blowing nozzle and a grip handle. The hot air created by themotor and heating element is passed through the cylindrical barrel orblowing nozzle. The cylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle becomes heatedduring the process of hot air passing through it. Due to the extremelyhigh temperature of the cylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle, it can beuncomfortable to handle this part of the hair dryer. Many users find itmore comfortable to handle a hair dryer using the cylindrical barrel orblowing nozzle rather than the handle. The user becomes unable to holdthe cylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle due to the extreme heat. It istherefore desirable to provide a heat resistant sleeve that is effectiveagainst extremely high temperatures, is flexible, reusable and easilymanufactured. Thus, there exists a need for an accessory to protect theuser of hair dryers from extreme heat at the cylindrical barrel orblowing nozzle area. The present invention satisfies such a need byprotecting the hands of not only the professional users such ashairstylists and barbers, but for pet groomers and individual consumersfrom extreme heat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be better understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair dryer with a silicone heatresistant sleeve installed over the cylindrical barrel or blowingnozzle.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of a silicone sleeve, showing theinstallation of the sleeve to a hair dryer.

FIG. 3 is a cut-away view of the inside of a typical hair dryer showingthe heating element of the cylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle.

FIG. 4 is a drawing of a hairstylist holding the cylindrical barrel orblowing nozzle to blow dry a client's hair and a partial side view of asilicone sleeve.

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of a smooth finish silicone sleeve,showing the installation of the sleeve to a hair dryer.

Before the present invention is further described, it is to beunderstood that this invention is not limited to particular embodimentsdescribed, as such may of course vary. It is also to be understood thatthe terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. Unless definedotherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the samemeaning as commonly understood by one skilled in the art to which thisinvention belongs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to said figures, a hair dryer is indicated overall byFIG. 1 and comprises a casing with a handgrip and a cylindrical barrelor blowing nozzle. The hair dryer comprises known means, not shown, forgenerating said air flow.

On at least one portion, for example the cylindrical barrel or blowingnozzle, there is an accessory (FIG. 2) for protecting the user fromextreme heat. By way of example, the accessory can be placed on thecylindrical barrel or blowing nozzle and when the user holds the hairdryer using the barrel, the silicone sleeve will protect the user fromextreme heat. Any hair dryer may be contained within a protective sleeve(FIG. 5).

The invention is constructed of a flexible material able to withstandtwisting and bending and resistant to high temperature. For example,this material can be a silicone rubber or synthetic rubber obtained fromequivalent materials.

In certain embodiments, the body of the sleeve may be smooth and/orribbed. Specifically, the smooth and/or ribbed surface element may notonly serve the purpose of enhancing gripping but may also be used tocommunicate one or more meaning to a user. For instance, the surface maybe configured to communicate a word or phrase such as a brand name ormarketing slogan, or may be a contoured image and/or shape.

In this manner, if using the hair dryer as shown in FIG. 4, theaccessory will protect the user from the high heat being produced by theheating element inside the barrel or nozzle.

The present invention is useful in numerous industries, as well as forconsumers. A non-exclusive list of industries in which the removablesleeve would be useful includes professional hairstylists, hair salons,and barbers, but also for pet groomers and consumers.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certainspecific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications andchanges may be made by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appendedclaims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms orarrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of theinvention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and theirequivalents.

1. A removable sleeve for heat protection on hair dryers, the sleevecomprising: a. a conical sleeve having side walls; b. a left and rightopening having a diameter similar in size to the barrel of a hair dryer;c. a molded, removable protective sleeve having a first end, a secondend, and a middle section extending between the first end and the secondend, where the first end has a first opening configured for receivingthe hair dryer, where the middle section extends over the barrel of thehair dryer, and where the second end covers at least a portion of thebarrel of the hair dryer d. wherein the removable protective sleeveconsisting of a silicone material and is designed to insulate a user'shand from heat; e. wherein the material is a heat resistant materialdesigned to resist heat to at least 450 degrees Fahrenheit; f. whereinthe sleeve and openings therein are designed and sized to receive thehair dryer through the first opening and to snugly fit the hair dryer;and g. wherein the sleeve is to be designed to be flexible forremovability from the hair dryer.
 2. The removable sleeve for heatprotection on hair dryers of claim 1, wherein the material of the sleeveis silicone.
 3. The removable sleeve for heat protection on hair dryersof claim 1, wherein the heat resistant material resists heat up to 450degrees Fahrenheit.
 4. The removable sleeve for heat protection on hairdryers of claim 1, wherein the removable sleeve is conical in shape. 5.The removable sleeve for heat protection on hair dryers of claim 1,wherein the removable sleeve is dimensioned to fit snugly to the barrelof a hair dryer.
 6. The removable sleeve for heat protection on hairdryers of claim 1, wherein the removable sleeve is capable of stretchingfrom an original configuration so as to receive the hair dryer, andreturn to its original configuration once the hair dryer has beenremoved, if necessary, from the protective sleeve.
 7. The removablesleeve for heat protection on hair dryers of claim 1, wherein theremovable sleeve is configured to have smooth and/or ribbed surfaces.